Emerging Non‐OECD Countries: Global Shifts in Power And Geopolitical Regionalization

Abstract

Various concepts ascribe key roles to emerging non‐OECD countries in regional and global politics. This paper highlights how these concepts hint not only at a shift of global power but also at geopolitical regionalization: according to the theory of hegemonic stability, regional powers (a subcategory of emerging non‐OECD countries) are key actors in overcoming international anarchy and establishing cooperative and stable relations within their regions. Because of the different impacts of different regional powers, which are categorized in this paper using typologies of hegemony, the logic of international relations varies from one region to another. From a theoretical point of view, this means that international relations theories have to make region‐specific adaptations.

Keywords: regional powers, hegemonic stability, geopolitics, regionalization